{"argument_date":"2007-03-20T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2007-03-20T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argued the direct review standard is deeply rooted in law.","the opposing side argued federal habeas is an extraordinary remedy limited by federalism.","Justice Scalia questioned the logic of applying different standards to similar errors.","Justice Breyer asked what the majority opinion meant regarding the standard."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 45-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 45-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-19"}]}],"caption":"Fry v. Pliler","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.918471Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the side that brought the case seeks the direct review standard for constitutional errors. the opposing side argues for the stricter collateral review standard.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 45-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 45-37"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2007-03-20T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/06-5247.html","primary_docket":"06-5247","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T12:37:30.516474Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The case concerns the standard for reviewing constitutional errors in federal habeas petitions. the side that brought the case argues for the direct review standard. the opposing side argues for the collateral review standard."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 45-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 45-37"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 20, 2007."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the direct review standard applied to his habeas petition.","the opposing side wants the collateral review standard applied to his habeas petition."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 45-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 45-37"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the direct review standard is deeply rooted in law.","the opposing side argues federal habeas is an extraordinary remedy limited by federalism."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 45-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 45-37"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia questioned the logic of applying different standards to similar errors.","Justice Breyer asked what the majority opinion meant regarding the standard."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-19"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The standard determines whether a prisoner can challenge a conviction. It affects the scope of federal habeas relief. It balances state sovereignty against individual rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 45-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 45-37"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-19"}]}],"slug":"2006-06-5247-fry-v-pliler","term":"2006","title":"Which Harmlessness Standard Applies in Federal Habeas Review?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 45-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-5247.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 45-37"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}